Dr. Kayode Opeifa, met with the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The newly appointed Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, met with the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, and the Minister for Transportation, Saidu Alkali, on Wednesday at their respective offices in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu approved and announced the appointment of Dr. Opeifa as the substantive Managing Director of the NRC on Tuesday.
Opeifa was the former Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola.
He was subsequently appointed by the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration to help tackle the perennial, notorious, and intractable Apapa gridlock and its environs.
Opeifa was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Task Team, PTT, to free Apapa gridlock by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who chaired the Task Team and was then charged with unbundling the ravaging traffic gridlock at the Lagos Ports.
Meanwhile, by his new appointment, Dr. Opeifa succeeded Ben Iloanusi, who was acting Managing Director and replaced former Managing Director Fidet Okhiria, who exited on October 18, 2024, after completing his second four-year tenure.
The appointment of Dr. Opeifa, a renowned transport management expert, as the new MD of NRC has been described as a well-deserved recognition of his exceptional contributions to the transportation sector in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
Speaking with Vanguard on the visit, Dr. Opeifa can visit as a courtesy to seek their support for the new task ahead and achieve maximum success.
He assured that he would not disappoint Mr. President for the confidence repose in him, as well as the transportation sector, but bring his wealth of experience to bear in moving the industry forward.
Dr. Opeifa gained prominence during his tenure as Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, where he spearheaded transformative initiatives that modernized the city’s transport sector.
His policies and innovations improved traffic management and established Lagos as a benchmark for urban transportation systems in Africa.
Based on his laudable achievement in the sector, Opeifa was later appointed as Transport Secretary for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In this capacity, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and competence, ensuring efficient transportation systems in the nation’s capital.
With a profound understanding of transportation systems, particularly railways, Dr. Opeifa is expected to bring a new vision to the NRC.
His leadership is anticipated to drive the development of a more efficient, interconnected railway system that will boost economic growth and enhance the quality of life for Nigerians.
Also, former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly Dr Oluyinka Ogundimu joined the rest of the well-wishers to congratulate the new NRC MD.
Ogundimu described President Tinubu’s appointment of Opeifa as a great honour not only for the Agege people but also for Lagos State in general.
“We are very grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is a great honour for us, not only in Agege but also to the entire state.
“With his vast experience and knowledge, there is no gain saying that the appointment of Opeifa confirms the President’s commitment to always putting round pegs in round holes in his bid to move the country to greater heights,” Ogundimu said.
He also expressed confidence in the ability and capacity of Opeifa to deliver at the highest level.
“He has excelled in this sector before. He was Commissioner for Transport in Lagos, he didn’t disappoint and has held other high profile assignments in the transport excelling in all of them. I have implicit confidence in him that he won’t disappoint on this one also,” Ogundimu stated.
